In this interview spotlight, I chat with Murdocco about the latest music, challenges, technology and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)

I am from Uruguay from Montevideo, a country of only 3.5 million people. It’s hard to classify the music that I make but essentially I am a singer-songwriter making electronic music. I’m releasing 4 singles and each of them has a slightly different character because they represent my personal experiences, and in each track I needed to find a sound that best expressed that sentiment.

Talk about take me to the stars

“Take me to the stars” is like a prayer, where I ask a bird to take me to the stars. It’s about being in a bad situation, wishing for a better place, wanting an exit to another galaxy, somewhere far away… I recorded it in my studio, written, performed and produced by me. Electronic samba beats with dark + dirty synth bass and wishful vocals harmonies. 

What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going? 

I believe music is energy and I use that medium to express my emotions. When I write songs the idea comes to me in an spontaneous way, sometimes while I am playing guitar or laying down some chords in the daw, the lyrics and melodies just come to me; then I just sit down and try to decipher its meaning, I tidy it up and arrange it musically. It’s a discovery of myself. I want to pass on this energy to other people, hoping that they will feel identified with these feelings and give them some sort of comfort and inclusion. That is my motivation. 

How is this new release different than previous ones?

On this occasion I started off with a samba sample to recreate the samba rhythm. I grew up listening to Brazilian music, which I love, so I wanted to explore the genre, I was in a difficult situation and I was really wishing for good things to happen to me. So this song is about that, a desire to go somewhere ideal, to a better place, to another galaxy. Whereas Rainy Day is all about the desire to speak up and say all that you have to say, it’s more angry, a more frustrated energy and also a release of saying it in the song, and encouraging everyone to speak up. 

Were you trying to accomplish anything specific? 

Yes, musically I was exploring the genre fusing it with electronic sounds, bass synth, incorporating classical percussion instruments used in samba, and electronic beats. I also wanted to make it really earthy and tropical, incorporating the singing of birds inspired by “Hermeto Pascoal”, and by all the good Tropicalia sounds that are bold and rebellious. 

Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this over saturated, digital music age? 

I think the challenge is to stand out and try to get my name out there, without being able to gig, it is all about social media, and streaming and that is a challenge in itself. The constant pressure of generating good content. With my previous band we didn’t care about our online presence so much, we were just doing the necessary and gigging. There is so much music released everyday, that you have to do a lot to stand out and be heard. There’s a lot to learn, lots of platforms to be present at and endless content creation when really what you want, is just to make music. 

How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)? 

I guess you can control and get to territories internationally that maybe you’ve never dreamt of reaching. It is very exciting in that sense. There are so many tools and so many people that are really willing to connect and collaborate. Lots of tools that you can use for yourself, it is very exciting how much we can do ourselves, from creating videos, to promotional campaigns, and when it comes to music production, the possibilities are endless. 

What was the last song you listened to?

I don’t know by Jamie XX, I love it, he released it during the lockdown, I think it is amazing, always makes me dance and cheers me up. Perhaps not the last one I’ve heard.

Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?

I prefer good audio files because I can take them with me wherever I go. However,  there is something really special about hanging out with friends and listening to vinyls, it’s more involved in a way, and you get to enjoy and discover the artwork and read the lyrics, is more tactile . CDs I don’t use them or buy them anymore somehow, but I still keep them.

Do you prefer Spotify? 

I do, because I’ve been using it for a long time and I am very used to the platform, I know others sound better, but for now that is my most used one.

Apple Music? 

I haven’t used it enough, I tried it for a bit, but the platform was a bit confusing. Feels more proper though.

Bandcamp? 

I like Bandcamp but do not spend much time on it. 

Or something else? 

I use Soundcloud a lot as I upload my tracks there too, I like the platform, and use it a lot, to share tracks privately is very practical, and also good to discover music and interact with other musicians. 

Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?

In Spotify you will find new stuff ,  on Soundcloud www.soundcloud.com/murdocco are more new and old tracks, and you can get all the news about me on my Instagram @murdocco_music and Facebook page.

Anything else before we sign off?

I am releasing more singles in the upcoming months, as well as music videos, so stay tuned… I think that you will like them  ; )

Everyone stay strong, we are almost done with this pandemic, be kind to yourselves and be present for the ones you love.